We often discuss how U of I offers transformative experiences for students. Kaitlyn Harvey recently took that to new heights. In December, Kaitlyn and a team of Vandal engineering students flew across the country to Kennedy Space Center in Florida. They spent a hectic four days making final preparations for their antibacterial polymer experiment to launch to the International Space Station. After overcoming some logistical challenges in the days leading up to the launch – a shipping snafu delayed the arrival of their experiment in Florida – the students were finally able to take a deep breath on Sunday after delivering their experiment to be placed on the rocket. “The first moment of relief was when we handed over the experiment. One of my teammates and I just started crying,” said Kaitlyn, who will graduate in May with a degree in biological engineering. “And then seeing the rocket up in the sky was just overwhelming, exciting and relieving. It was one of those unforgettable experiences. The U of I team was one of five selected for NASA’s Student Payload Opportunity with Citizen Science competition. The majority of her colleagues on the team are now in grad school or embarking on their careers. Kaitlyn and sophomore chemical engineering student Ashley Keeley are continuing work on the project with faculty mentor Matthew Bernards, using a microscope to analyze how their polymers held up over 30 days in the Space Station compared to the control samples on Earth. Working with NASA was a dream when Kaitlyn started at U of I, but that became a very realistic career path after her time in Florida. “This experience definitely flipped my mindset,” she said. “I’d like to be involved in experiments in space – aerospace is definitely the way I want to go now. We had two NASA mentors while we were there, and they talked with us about what it’s like to work at NASA and how to explore those opportunities. That was really beneficial.” In addition to her contacts at NASA, Kaitlyn has talked with Jacobs Engineering Group, a firm that works with NASA on major projects, about potential employment. Her teammate Ashley is considering an internship at NASA this summer. “As our interim dean (John Crepeau) likes to say, U of I is small enough to care, but big enough to matter,” Kaitlyn said. “That was really showcased in this experience.” |